Tokoriki, Fiji + Lanai, Hawaii
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Alison is still obsessed with her Airpods. Lulu is obsessed with the Chirp Wheel, a product which is like if a yoga wheel and a foam roller had a baby that was blessed by the FDA. Buh-bye, back pain! Lulu loves it so much that she is incorporated it into her nightly routine!
Alison is wishing for a magical hair serum that would help her hair grow. Her patience is as thin as her hair. Lulu loved talking podcasting, and after her conversation with fellow podcaster Nicole Kaplan in a recent #10KSaturday, she is wishing for a new microphone, specifically the Shure SM7B Microphone.
Tokoriki is a small island that is part of the Mamanuca Islands archipelago. We had a guest googler do a day in the Mamanuca Islands that was very shark-centric. Going for a slightly different, more indulgent vibe, Lulu is headed to this very specific island as it boasts a resort that has been ranked #1 in Fiji on TripAdvisor five years in a row. The Tokoriki Island Resort looks like heaven on earth, an uninterrupted heaven as this is an adults-only resort with a limit of 72 guests. Boutique accommodations with world class luxury await Lulu at her beachfront villa with a personal infinity pool, outdoor shower, and double daybed cabana. Oh and complimentary laundry services and afternoon canapes. They have otherworldly spa services, inspiring dining options, and exciting tours and activities. There are excursions you can add on, though you could spend a week on their complimentary activities and still not do them all. Snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boards are ready for your use, you can do a nature walk and medicine talk, learn basket weaving, or do a cocktail tasting at the bar. They even have "romance coordinators" on staff if you wanted to plan an elopement while there. With so much to see and do in the present moment, the Tokoriki resort culture encourages guests to "unwind and disconnect"... so all of their accommodations are free of televisions, telephones, or internet. There is wifi access in the lobby if you need to check in with family or can't wait to instagram a snap of the serene locale.
Lulu books one of their bespoke couple experiences, the Monuriki Dawn Hike. Many resorts in the area offer day trips to this uninhabited island where Castaway was filmed. Not likely to be as many people there at dawn, so perhaps she'll cry out "WILSON!" just for kicks.
Tokoriki offers an all-but-booze-inclusive meal package if you choose to add it to your booking, and includes a full breakfast with free-flow French sparkling wine, lunch, afternoon tea, and a three-course dinner. Their menu changes every few days, but at time of research Lulu was craving their roti breakfast wrap with Fijian style scrambled egg, onion, coriander, chili, island made tomato chutney, and their pancakes with coconut sugar plantain, freshly grated coconut maple syrup, and mascarpone. She went ahead and peeked at the lunch menu, and goes for a frozen passionfruit mojito, garlic prawns with semolina, coconut chutney, and sambar, and a banana fritter with coconut ice cream and a caramel glaze. At this point Lulu is questioning if you will ever return home.
If this resort wasn't already making your wanderlust meter max out, you can purchase an UNLIMITED 60 MINUTE MASSAGE bundle from the spa. Yes, that's right. She’s going to use that more than once! After her early morning hike she’s looking forward to using one of those massages! Her massage has her feeling oh so relaxed, so she decides to have a leisurely afternoon on her cabana lounger by the pool. First she slaps on some Supergoop Play SPF 50 sunscreen, then she slips in to what is sure to be on her next wishlist - the Nap Loungewear Cool Silk Tank Top set. Yes it's a thing, there is a company called Nap Loungewear and Lulu can't believe she didn't think of it first. Their eco-friendly NIPNAP fabric has the breathability of cotton and the sheerness and flow of silk. She also has a cooling weighted blanket to make her island cabana daybed cozy nap dreams come true. She also dons some Skyn iceland cool firming eye gels to give her under-eye area a nice refresh while she dozes.
Lulu utilizes Tokoriki’s "romance coordinator" to arrange bridal hair and makeup and a mani/pedi, because while she's not eloping, she wants to look really good for dinner. She's dressing for dinner in this Archer floral cotton dress by Loveshackfancy and some Ugg "Fluff Yeah" slides, mixing high-end and house slippers with the greatest of ease! She walks down to the jetty where she is doing Tokoriki's Exclusive Moet & Chandon Jetty Dinner, complete with a bottle of said bubbly, three courses, butler service and a visit from serenaders.
After dinner Lulu decides to make the most of the outdoor shower by indulging in some haircare products from Oribe:
After enjoying her at-villa hair treatments in her outdoor under-the-stars shower she heads inside, eases into her Nap Loungewear set from earlier, plus their oversized, oh-so-comfy Box Cut Ample Cardigan, and calls it a night.
Alison loves visiting Hawaii - in 10K days and in real life - and decided to explore the lesser known island of Lanai after reading an exhaustive "this is not your typical Hawaiian island" guide-style blog post. According to the Ott's World article, the history of Lanai begins as an uninhabited island assumed to be rife with evil spirits. The first inhabitant was sent there as a way of punishment, but after surviving said spirits thus proving life on Lanai a possibility, more people came. For a long time the island was a Dole pineapple plantation, and still there are mostly unpaved roads. This makes it necessary to have a 4WD or all terrain vehicle, which gives Alison the chance to rent a Jeep, her dream car from Lanai Cheap Jeeps.
Alison is so excited about her stay at Sensei Lānaʻi, a Four Seasons Resort. The resort is just one of three hotels on the island, and is located in the traditionally spiritual uplands. She has booked their Guided Wellness Package, which includes a Sensei Guide to work closely with you and the resort's wellness team to optimize your stay, and requires you to fill out a pre-arrival questionnaire. With your booking you get luxurious Four Seasons accommodations, transfer to their sister resort for beach access and fine dining, and a $600 wellness credit per person per day! You can utilize said credit for one-on-one sessions in Nutrition, Meditation, Fitness, Yoga, and more! Any room rate at the hotel comes with access to up to twelve daily well-being classes, so if you are looking for a place to reset and refresh, Alison has found it!
She has her Jeep and feels it is just an understood fact that at any moment she’s going to pull off the unpaved road and go for a quick swim in the ocean. At hand ready-to-go is her newly purchased ~$650 Ocean Reef's Neptune Space G Full Face Snorkeling Mask. No more choking on accidentally inhaled water through a snorkel and fogged up goggles...this full coverage face mask feels just like breathing on land and has a crazy wide range of visibility.
Alison is going to use this time with her Sensei and wellness team to get her health on track. She does their $225 Nutrition 1:1 with Biomarker Program, where a simple fingerstick test gives details about what nutrient and lifestyle modifications she should make to optimize her wellbeing. She then will use this information to better inform her cuisine choices when she dines at Sensei by Nobu, the on-site restaurant situated in a glass pavilion overlooking the koi pond.
Alison is excited for the Lāna’i Adventure Park where she will try her hand at the Aerial Adventure Tower - two stories of adventure “where guests navigate their way through wobbly bridges, mentally-challenging puzzles, and physically demanding elements as they step outside their personal comfort zone”. It's kind of like American Ninja Warrior, but tropical. There's also zip-lining and e-bikes! $75 gets you two hours in the park, which Alison will be making the most of!
Looking for a slightly less amped up activity, Alison makes a visit to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary, home to more than 600 rescue cats who now have food, medical care and love, for life. There are so many cute felines to play with and its completely free to visit! Alison makes a donation towards the sanctuary’s efforts, and buys some mugs from their gift shop!
Among the plethora of land-based activities you can do through the resort is Clay Shooting. The 14-station course in the woods is a fun challenge no matter your experience level. You can get a private 1-hour lesson for $100, before taking a shot at launched sporting clays that simulate movement patterns of duck, quail, or doves. This is like hunting for vegans, then?
Going for the full range of experiences here, next Alison spends $750 at the spa on a two-and-a-half hour in-water bodywork session. The Aquatic Bodywork and Massage eases anxiety and removes tension, started with guided intuitive stretches combining elements of massage, joint mobilization and shiatsu in a pool, followed by a full-body massage. RIGHT?!?
For $400 you can reserve Private Hale Time, basically personal use of the spa with no set schedule. You are encouraged to “create your own personal spa ritual” using the infared sauna, the O’furo bath, outdoor rain shower and the soaking tub. All set in a private spa sanctuary amidst tropical gardens. Plus you have refreshments available to you. Sounds like the most perfect use of money and time!
Alison ends her day with a two-hour Sunset Sailing experience. Watching the sunset while enjoying cocktails and appetizers sounds like the perfect way to spend an evening in Hawaii, and is you’re lucky you can spot spinner dolphins frolicking in the surf!
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